recommend a DI BOX.

[deadastronaut]

hi guys ive been looking at getting a DI BOX  for guitar/bass to mixer to be used for recording.

the choice is pretty overwhelming....

phantom ( which i do have on my mixer):

active :

passive :

some with cab sims  built in.... :

heres a list of ones i'm looking at....which would you pick?...and why?

ART-Z     http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181062496240?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

ART-Z DUAL  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400391785414?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

BEHRINGER ULTRA G  (+CAB SIM)  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160973239899?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

DI-E  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370634585533?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

BEHRINGER D100  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281058342051?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

BEHRINGER ULTRA D100  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200888458566?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

JOYO   (+CAB SIMS)   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200829204431?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[Kipper4]

Depends on your budget of course
but this get a good rating most places

http://www.thomann.de/gb/radial_engineering_j_48.htm?sid=7b9af1f936941512a240a3c731eda530

[deadastronaut]

^ 192 euro's....arghhhhhh....

cheapo recommendations please!!!...

[FunkyGibbon]

I built and use this:

http://sound.westhost.com/project35.htm

I have had no problems with it (after about 4 or 5 years use), and I think it sounds great. I left out the 'Line/ Spkr' section (so just connected the input to between R1 and C1), and changed R1 from 100k to 1M. With 100k there will be some treble loss to ground.

Christopher

[Kipper4]

I would defo go active rather than passive. IMO

[deadastronaut]

@chris: looks like a cool build....but i don't fancy doing the XLR holes...

@rich:  yeah phantom+ battery is what i was thinking.. but will a battery last ages on it though?


i quite fancy this as its 2 channel and phantom too...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121049878856?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[samhay]

Hi - got your PM; have been tied up at work. I have a Headway EDB-1, which is pretty good if you have particular (acoustic) requirements and about £200. I susspect you would be better off going down the DIY route.
You definitely do not want a passive DI box if you are having impedance issues. While you can build a nice preamp buffer/DI box with really low output impedance by putting multiple op-amps in parallel, you could try a single op-amp buffer (try e.g. the op-amp buffer over at beavis audio' http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/Buffers/), and if you want to get fancy you could power it from the phantom power from your mixer. I guess you would need to use an XLR jack though.
Do you a really need phantom power? If so, what for?

[Jazznoise]

Passive is the way to go. Some mild low frequency distortion is a small price to pay for galvionic isolation! They also can handle large loads and so can be used for attenuating speaker outputs etc. Some people even like how transformers sound 

I've a Millenium one I got for 10 euro, probably identical to the cheap Nady/Behringer/Whatever equivalents you find. Go with that.

[deadastronaut]

@sam: phantom not totally needed..just an extra option i guess as my mixer has it..

i'd rather buy one than build as my missus is buying it as a prezzie ..


@jazz :  passive v's active...see this is where its gets a bit indecisive for me..

[Jazznoise]

The only benefits are a fixed input impedance and lower distortion. Trust me, ground loops sound worse than transformer saturation! Spend 50 quid if you want, you probably wont get more than 2-3% THD at 20hz. Consider a bass' low E is about 40. A guitar is well within a passive DI's comfortable bandwidth.

[deadastronaut]

^ i have a 5 string bass  ''low B'' ..

there is a ground lift on the
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121049878856?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

19.99 amazon..free post.

hmmmm....decisions decisions...

[samhay]

Jazznoise is right in that a passive transormer will potentially be quieter. If the DI box is to drive a long cable or to fix the weird loading problems you have been having with the reverb etc, then impedance is probably of more convern and I would vote for an active solution.
The Behringer looks very nice for the price and you can power it from your mixer. If it does what it says on the tin, you couldn't build something better for that price.

Edit: Just looked at the spec sheet. Input resistance (impedance?) >250k, which is not great and output impedance >600 ohm. A simple FET or FET op-amp buffer could do significantly better on both counts, but you could always do that as a DIY project on the side.

[dmc777]

I've been eyeing this one for a while now. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Moen-MO-BA-Buffalo-GEN3-Parametric-EQ-DI-Box-Amp-Sim-Guitar-Effects-Pedal-/200883630865?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2ec598f311#ht_1602wt_959Has a good bit of options and believe it or not these overseas pedals are actually build using quaity components as stated. Atleast the ones I own for example the biyang distortion 3, which is a modified Rat with LM308 IC, Wima and other box caps as well as 3 different clipping diode switch. As well Joyo's California sound which is based off the Mesa Boogie tone. Very versatile with 6 knobs. The voice knob adds a nice rance a diffent tones and can also be used as an overdrive. Only downfall to it is smd components.

Any opinions on the one I listed please list.

[Seljer]

I built and use this:

http://sound.westhost.com/project35.htm

I have had no problems with it (after about 4 or 5 years use), and I think it sounds great. I left out the 'Line/ Spkr' section (so just connected the input to between R1 and C1), and changed R1 from 100k to 1M. With 100k there will be some treble loss to ground.

Christopher

I've built the one in figure 3 too. Also omitting the speaker input and changing R1 and R2 to 1Meg (and I think i then lowered C1 to a 100nF capacitor)
I usually just run it off phantom power even though I added the option for a 9v battery (and with a shorted out batter connector, two batteries for 18V). I use it DI my electric guitar when recording using VST amp simulator plugins. My bass is already active and I don't have any trouble plugging it into the mixer directly when I have to record something.



edit: I only use it at home though, no idea how it holds to ground loops in a hazardous stage environment

[Jazznoise]

To justify the cost and bother of going active, the input impedance should at least be 500k if not 1Meg for a guitar. It wont particularly effect the output of keyboards, so no reason to keep it so low. How silly.

[wavley]

I have three different ones that I use for different reasons.

The Anthony Demaria Stereo Tube DI is my favorite and I would consider out of my price range if I hadn't gotten it in an estate sale, it's just awesome on everything.

The Behringer D100 is actually a pretty great deal for the price, it sounds pretty good and you can use it in between a head and cab which is fun.

I also have an old passive DOD box, and honestly, while it's not the best DI I own, it gets quite possibly the most use because I can run it in reverse to re amp things.

Peterson Goodwyn is a VERY nice guy and has a project/kit for a passive DI that I've been thinking about buying and building.  I know I don't need a kit for something this simple, but his box just looks so good!  http://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/4522/how-to-build-a-passive-di/

[bluebunny]

Got the DI20 that you posted an eBay link for, Rob.  We use it for putting an electro-acoustic into the desk live, phantom powered.  Does the job, pretty versatile, pretty cheap and pretty solid.

[deadastronaut]

hmmmm , what to choose!..

[Resynthesis]

Can't go wrong with the Behringer. I also picked up a Dave Hall DI a while ago and that's been rock solid

http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/page19.html

[Jazznoise]

edit: I only use it at home though, no idea how it holds to ground loops in a hazardous stage environment

It'll only be as dangerous as whatever crazy way the place has been wired or how the SE has set up his rig. The circuit is obviously fine.

People think I'm nuts sometimes of how distrustful of pub wiring I am, but people who enjoy electrocution should be in a BDSM club and not a gig. Shocks are dangerous and, if nothing else, can be seriously distracting during a performance! I try to stick to 1 or 2 sockets, reasonably far from the bar (Fridges, gr..) and if it's a seperate socket to on stage then I'll wedging a transformer between us.

Those ART 1:1 transformer isolators are life savers, incidentaly. One of those and a passive DI give's you isolation for most 4 peices in a reasonably small venue.